Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanika Pichey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shanika, really appreciate your meeting with us today to talk about some particularly personal topics. It means a lot because so many in the community are going through circumstances where your insights and experience and lessons might help, so thank you so much in advance for sharing. The first question we have is about divorce and how you overcame divorce and didn’t allow the trauma of divorce to derail your vision for your life and career.
I still am lol. Kidding, Sort of
I don’t think you necessarily “overcome” divorce but you learn how to live with it. I am grateful for the choice I made to end my marriage but I would be remiss to say there aren’t moments when I don’t have regrets (about the majority of it) Post-separation, I was in survival mode and stayed on the go. I thought I was dealing with the ending of my marriage but truthfully I wasn’t dealing with it at all. I made it all about my sons and making sure they were ok by overcompensating. So much change had come to their life (unfairly) and I wanted them to be as happy and adjusted as possible. I cringe when I think back at that time. I had people telling me I was so “strong.” I took the compliment and kept it moving but in reality I was crying alone everyday and toying around with really bad thoughts (ideation). I had a really good friend who would listen to me without judgment but she did always encourage I seek help. I am no stranger to therapy and a huge advocate for it but at that time I just wasn’t ready. Time did help heal some wounds but after another situation had happened, it became my priority to make sure my sons and I were as mentally healthy as possible. I worked hard to have a great relationship with my sons and be close with them but I know my limits. When we become parents, there’s this expectation on us to have all the answers and solutions. Spoiler: we don’t. To be a better parent, we must realize we do not know it all and seek outside support if needed – the second part is important. Through therapy we all learned skills to cope with our thoughts and actions. Both boys have “graduated.” I’m doing the extended program lol
I have also been able to deal with my divorce through yoga. Yoga forces you to deal with the truth. Not “your truth,” but the “actual truth.” It prepares you to bend but not break.V
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a 500hr trained Yoga Teacher. In the past 10 years, I have become really passionate about caring for the inner and outer body with holistic practices. Along with yoga, I have also completed trainings in Assisted Stretching and IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization). As well as becoming attuned in Reiki. My passion for yoga goes beyond the physical. I place a huge emphasis on Breathwork, meditation, and being mindful of the words we say to ourselves and others. Sadly, a lot of people still feel they don’t have the right “look” to practice yoga I’m always advocating for more diversity and inclusivity in the yoga community. My goal this year is to work with more companies and help them implement wellness practices into the workplace. In the past I have facilitated discussions and workshops and hope to expand on those offerings. I’ve recently gotten back to professionally practicing photography and that has been fun. My favorite style is portraits and getting real and raw emotions by talking with the subject and getting personal.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Watch your ego. When you first become certified, you are bursting through the seams and want to share your knowledge with every and anyone. Remember, you are always a student – never stop learning 2. Have the courage to speak up. We gotta get over the need to want to be liked by everyone. It’s just not going to happen. Even you don’t like everyone.
3.Professionalism. Don’t get lax on the teacher-student relationship. People are paying to take your class. Keep the personal stories to a minimum, unless you are using it in your class but still, boundaries.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always up for collaboration! As I mentioned before, there tends to still be a divide in the wellness community when it comes to POC so I’m always hoping for that shift to happen. I want to work with businesses and companies (locally and/or nationally) and lead a workshop, yoga class, Breathwork session, or stretch class. And honestly, I want to work with CVS, lol. I’m in their store weekly!
Contact Info:
- Website: ShanikaPichey.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/shanikapichey
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanikap/
Image Credits
Crush Rush and Shanika Pichey
